Hey @Delta — Northeast Ohio would make a great HQ if you’re put off by Mr. Cagle’s authoritarian tendencies. Quality of life, infrastructure, and wonderful communities. I’d love to show you around! https://t.co/7Fsh9g0yAD

The likelihood of Delta moving headquarters out of Atlanta is about as likely as a snowball’s chance in hell, but it is worth noting Newton’s third law, “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.”

I said yesterday “if I’m a betting man, I expect Delta to make a conciliatory gesture, perhaps even the restoration of its NRA corporate discount, in order to secure its lucrative tax break on fuel.”

Today I’m not so sure. Of course Delta has never seen a government subsidy [for itself] it didn’t like. I figured Delta would quietly restore NRA discounts before losing $50,000,000 in tax breaks. Now I question that. In fact, the more I think about it the more I realize how stubborn Delta is in just about every area of its operation…SkyMiles especially.

Not that it matters too much…Delta will still be profitable with or without these tax breaks and is highly unlikely to leave Atlanta.

But the overtures from outside Georgia are important reminders that companies are not powerless or necessarily chained to one state.

About Author

Matthew

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he
travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 120
countries over the last decade. Working both in the aviation industry
and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in the New York
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international relations, American government, and later obtaining a
law degree, Matthew has a plethora of knowledge outside the travel
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the United States Air Force, on Capitol Hill, and in the White House.
His Live and Let's Fly blog shares the latest news in the airline
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detailed reports of his worldwide travel. His writings on
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5 Comments

They can easily move corporate HQ without having to modify ATL operations one bit. There’s no rule that dictates your HQ must be at your largest hub.

Things like AL or OH hardly make sense for the amount of trouble they need to deal with, but a move to somewhere like NY easily makes sense. They have roughly 475-500 departures across JFK LGA EWR so it’s not like they’ll have a disconnect from core operations.

Stay the course. Delta being my airline I love seeing their logo plastered all over Los Angeles Pride and I like this. I know people will disagree (and that’s fine), but this all suits me well. Hell, I’d even pay a little more for airfare–they’re already more expensive than everyone else for where I have to travel…IDGAF. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I have been a Delta FF for many years and a million miler.
Both my Daughters that are young professionals are frequent flyers with Delta and we all would have no problem paying a $5.00 premium every time we fly. Set up a fund and donate it to a charity. With every ticket sold as an optional donation.
This will increase Delta’s seats sold and help off set the lost tax break, as well as help a good cause.
You can even give the Goergia Republicans
credit for inspiring the idea. They, I am sure, would love giving back to a good cause.
It’s a win win for everyone.

Mr Bastain stated “Our decision was not made for economic gain and our values are not for sale”.